DVSA driving test centre

Southport (Liverpool)

Find driving instructors near the Southport (Liverpool) test centre in Southport. Browse local instructors, view test centre statistics, and prepare for your driving test with local instructors who know the area.

The Southport (Liverpool) driving test centre has a 56.52% pass rate across 7,949 tests (DVSA figures, 2025-26). The median wait between booking and taking a test here is 16.9 weeks as of August 2026.

Official DVSA figures

56.52%

Pass rate

DVSA figures, 2025-26

16.9 weeks

Average wait

DVSA figures for August 2026

7,949

Tests

Conducted over the period reported

4,493

Passes

Candidates who passed here

#91 of 316 in Britain

Local instructors

Southport (Liverpool) Driving Instructors

Find driving instructors within 10 miles of the Southport (Liverpool) test centre. Working with a local instructor who knows the test routes and area can significantly improve your preparation and confidence.

JC
Josh Chudley
No reviews yet

Liverpool City Region · 3 miles
4475 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 15 to 20 lessons to pass
8+ years experience
Manual
£73.92 - £84.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

VB
Val Banks
No reviews yet

West Lancashire · 6 miles
4477 •••
Female
English
On Avg. 20 to 60 lessons to pass
26+ years experience
Manual
£40.00 - £80.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

RC
Rupert Charles Hollis
No reviews yet

Formby · 6 miles
4478 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 25 to 40 lessons to pass
20+ years experience
Manual
£45.00 - £45.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

PM
Philip Maher
No reviews yet

Liverpool City Region · 7 miles
4475 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 20 to 40 lessons to pass
20+ years experience
Both automatic and manual
£45.00 - £100.00 per lesson
No block bookings
No mock tests

About Southport (Liverpool)

The Southport (Liverpool) test centre serves the Southport area as a key location for practical driving tests. With a pass rate of 56.52% based on 7,949 tests conducted, this test centre provides valuable insights for learner drivers preparing for their practical examination. Understanding the local area and practicing with an instructor familiar with the test centre can make a significant difference in your preparation and confidence on test day.

Success at any test centre comes down to thorough preparation. Working with a local driving instructor who knows the Southport area means you'll practice on roads similar to those used during your test, become familiar with local traffic patterns, and build the skills and confidence needed to pass. We've listed instructors near this test centre to help you prepare effectively.

Location & Directions

Address

Eastbank House, Eastbank Street
Southport
PR8 1HE

View on Google Maps

Book Your Test

Visit gov.uk/book-driving-test to book your driving test.

Waiting times

How long is the wait at Southport (Liverpool)?

Official DVSA figures for August 2026

Average wait for a test

16.9 weeks

The median time between booking a test here and taking it.

Until appointments free up

23.4 weeks

How far ahead you have to look before this centre has a reasonable choice of slots.

Tests DVSA cancelled here

583

Over 2025-26, mostly examiner medical absence. These are cancellations by DVSA - examiner absence, weather, industrial action - not by candidates. A cancelled test is rebooked at no charge.

See how Southport (Liverpool) compares: waiting times at every UK test centre

The numbers

Test Centre Statistics

Official DVSA figures from April 2025 to March 2026 (2025-26)

Overall Pass Rate

56.52%

91 of 316 centres in Britain

Best Performing Month

March 2026

59.58% pass rate (454 passes)

Average Monthly Tests

662

Conducted per month on average

Total Passes

4,493

Successful candidates over 12 months

Trends

Pass Rate Trends & Analysis

Pass rates at Southport (Liverpool) move month to month, influenced by weather, time of year and how well prepared candidates are. While March 2026 showed the highest pass rate at 59.58%, your result depends far more on your own preparation than on the month you book. An instructor who knows the local roads and traffic patterns is one of the most effective ways to improve your chances.

Pass Rate Trend

Monthly pass rates at Southport (Liverpool) (April 2025 - March 2026)

Overall Pass Rate

April 2025 - March 2026

4,493 passes from 7,949 tests
Source: DVSA, 2025-26 release
The breakdown

Who passes at Southport (Liverpool)

The headline rate mixes first tests with retakes. DVSA break it down further (2025-26).

First-time candidates

57.19%

Across 4,076 first attempts, of which 79 passed with no faults at all. If this is your first test, this is the closer comparison.

Automatic car tests

51.58%

Across 1,834 automatic tests. An automatic licence only lets you drive automatics.

Pass rate by age

Younger candidates tend to pass more often - worth knowing before comparing yourself to the headline number. The number on the right is how many tests that age group took.

Age 17
69.21%1,387
Age 18
59.31%1,042
Age 19
61.95%544
Age 20
58.16%380
Age 21
56.72%335
Age 22
64.58%319
Age 23
54.79%303
Age 25
48.75%279
Since 2007

Pass rate year by year

Every year DVSA have published for Southport (Liverpool), from 2007-08 to 2025-26

2007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26

Financial years 2007-08 to 2025-26, ranging between 47.79% and 59.2%

Pass rate at Southport (Liverpool) by financial year
Financial yearPass rateTests conducted
2007-0847.79%5,830
2008-0949.88%5,419
2009-1051.88%4,871
2010-1149.49%5,698
2011-1249.59%5,104
2012-1349.1%4,780
2013-1450.16%4,803
2014-1550.1%5,220
2015-1648.52%5,691
2016-1749.04%6,329
2017-1848.97%6,167
2018-1950.27%5,425
2019-2050.75%5,699
2020-2158.99%1,207
2021-2256.09%5,006
2022-2355.27%5,844
2023-2456.32%7,440
2024-2559.2%7,231
2025-2656.52%7,949
Becoming an instructor

ADI qualifying tests at Southport (Liverpool)

Trainee driving instructors sit their qualifying tests at ordinary test centres - these are the figures for this one.

ADI Part 3 pass rate (2025-26)

15.38%

The instructional-ability test - nationally the hardest step. Every centre's Part 3 rate

From the archive

Southport (Liverpool) driving test routes (2008–2010)

These are the official DSA route documents, last reviewed 2008–2010. DVSA stopped publishing test routes in October 2010 when independent driving was introduced; today's routes are different and unpublished, and the test centre itself may have moved site since these were written. Use these to get familiar with the general area - not to memorise a route.

Source: Driving Standards Agency, via The National Archives (OGL v3.0).

On the day

Test Centre Facilities & Services

Important information about the Southport (Liverpool) test centre

Available Test Types

This test centre provides these types of tests: car, motorcycle module 2 (on-road), ADI part 3.

Accessibility Information

You can access this test centre if you use a wheelchair.

What to Expect on Test Day

Your driving test at Southport (Liverpool) will follow the standard DVSA practical test format. Plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for check-in procedures.

  • Bring your provisional driving licence and theory test pass certificate
  • Your test will begin with an eyesight check (reading a number plate)
  • You'll be asked two vehicle safety questions ('show me, tell me')
  • The driving portion lasts approximately 40 minutes
  • You'll be asked to perform one manoeuvre and may be required to follow sat-nav directions
Preparation

Preparing for Your Driving Test at Southport (Liverpool)

Expert advice to help you succeed on test day

Preparing for your driving test requires more than just learning to drive - it's about building confidence, understanding the local area, and practicing under test-like conditions. At the Southport (Liverpool) test centre, success starts with thorough preparation and the right support.

Work With a Local Instructor

One of the most valuable investments you can make is working with a driving instructor who knows the Southport area well. Local instructors understand the roads commonly used for tests from Southport (Liverpool), know the local traffic patterns, and can provide targeted practice on manoeuvres and situations you're likely to encounter. They can also offer mock tests that simulate the real experience, helping you build confidence and identify areas that need more work.

Practice in the Local Area

Familiarity with the roads around Southport (Liverpool) can make a significant difference on test day. Spend time practicing in the area with your instructor, paying attention to speed limits, road layouts, and common hazards. This local knowledge helps reduce anxiety and allows you to focus on demonstrating your driving skills rather than trying to navigate unfamiliar roads.

Understand the Statistics

The 56.52% pass rate at Southport (Liverpool) provides context but shouldn't define your expectations. Every candidate's journey is different, and with proper preparation, you can exceed these statistics. Focus on mastering the skills, building your confidence, and taking your test only when you and your instructor agree you're ready.

FAQ

Common Questions About Southport (Liverpool)

Find answers to frequently asked questions about this test centre, pass rates, and preparing for your driving test.

57.19% of candidates taking their first driving test at Southport (Liverpool) passed it, across 4,076 first attempts in 2025-26. 79 of those passed with no driving faults at all. The centre's overall pass rate of 56.52% includes retakes, so first-time candidates should compare against this figure instead.

51.58% of automatic car tests taken at Southport (Liverpool) were passed, across 1,834 tests in 2025-26. Passing in an automatic gives you an automatic-only licence.

According to DVSA figures for August 2026, the average (median) wait between booking a test at Southport (Liverpool) and taking it is 16.9 weeks. Appointments generally start to free up around 23.4 weeks ahead. Waiting times change every month, and this page updates when DVSA publish new figures. For pass rates it ranks 91 of 316 centres in Britain.

Based on recent data, the Southport (Liverpool) test centre has a pass rate of 56.52%. This is considered average compared to the national average. Out of 7,949 tests conducted, 4,493 candidates passed their driving test.

This test centre provides these types of tests: car, motorcycle module 2 (on-road), ADI part 3.

You can access this test centre if you use a wheelchair.

To prepare for your driving test at the Southport (Liverpool) test centre, we recommend: practicing in the local area with a local instructor (see our instructors below), getting additional practice with family members between lessons (ensuring they're over 21 and have held a full UK licence for at least 3 years), watching instructional YouTube videos for tips and techniques, and completing mock tests. Consider the centre's 56.52% pass rate when planning your preparation timeline.

According to recent data, March 2026 had the highest pass rate at the Southport (Liverpool) test centre with 59.58% (454 passes from 762 tests). However, the best time to take your test is when you feel fully prepared and confident in your driving abilities.

The Southport (Liverpool) test centre is located at Eastbank House, Eastbank Street, Southport, PR8 1HE. You can find detailed directions using the Google Maps link on this page.

On your test day at the Southport (Liverpool) test centre, arrive at least 10-15 minutes early with your provisional licence and theory test certificate. Your examiner will ask you to read a number plate, perform 'show me, tell me' questions, and then conduct a driving test lasting approximately 40 minutes. Based on recent data, 56.52% of candidates pass at this test centre. Remember to stay calm and drive as you've been taught.

Officially no - DVSA stopped publishing test routes in October 2010 when independent driving was introduced, and today's routes are unpublished. However, the official DSA route documents used at Southport (Liverpool) until then are preserved by The National Archives, and you can view them on this page. Use them to get familiar with the roads around the test centre rather than to memorise a route.

We've listed driving instructors within 10 miles of the Southport (Liverpool) test centre at the top of this page. Working with a local instructor who knows the area and test routes can significantly improve your chances of passing. You can also search by your own postcode to see instructors who cover exactly where you live.